ACID ATTACK ON WOMEN

Introduction
Violence against women in India refers to physical or sexual violence committed on Indian
women. Mostly such violent acts are committed by the men, or in rare case a woman might
also be involved. Most common forms of violence against Indian women are domestic
abuse and sexual assault.
For an act to qualify as “violence against women”, it must be committed only because the
victim is a female. “Violence against women” in India is widely prevalent, mainly due to
long lasting gender inequality present for centuries.
The Indian Statics
The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) of India has the responsibility of publishing the
crime data including violence against women. The last annual report released by NCRB in
August 2018, has indicated towards an increased rate of violence against Indian women.
Cases of sexual violence against women in India have jumped up by over 10% than the
preceding years and rape accounts for 12% of all the crimes committed against women.
Delhi stands highest for reported rape cases at 30% followed by Sikkim at 22%.
However, it must be kept in mind that these figures are not actual as many cases of rape
and domestic violence go unreported.
Types of Violence against Women
There are many types of crimes that come under the category of violence against women.
Some of the most common forms of violence against women committed in India are listed
below-
1) Sexual Assault
Sexual Assault on a woman refers to the situation where a person intentionally makes
inappropriate physical contact with a woman without her consent or forces her into a
sexual act. It is a sexual violence and includes crimes like – rape, drugs induced sexual
assaults, child sexual abuse and groping.
2) Domestic Violence
Domestic violence against women is carried out in a domestic environment. Many cases of
domestic violence in India’s patriarchal society go unreported. It includes physical abuse of
a woman, by her in laws, husband or relatives. Social evils like dowry system, gender
inequality are primarily responsible for domestic violence against women.
3) Honor Killing
Honor killing refers to the murder of a family members who has supposedly brought shame
to the family by going against the family’s will on issues like arranged marriage, by choosing
a partner from other caste or in some cases by committing adultery.
4) Forced Prostitution
Throughout India cases of young girls going missing are continuously reported. These girls
are supposedly lured on the pretext of securing a job or earning money and send to other
states and subsequently forced into prostitution.
Causes of Violence against women in India
1) Patriarchal Society
Indian society is male dominated society where women don’t have the rights to make
major decisions related to the family. Moreover, researches revealed that almost 60% of
males in India think that women in the family must be beaten from time to time. This
societal setup always keeps women at a vulnerable position.
2) Family Factors
Domestic violence committed on a woman has a tendency to be carried over to the next
generation. A child who watches his father physically abusing his mother is most likely to do
the same to his wife when he grows up. Nuclear families have more reported incidents of
violence against women as there is no elder person to intervene and settle the matter.
3) Liquor consumption
Regular consumption of liquor by the husband is prime cause for violence against women in
a family. Alcohol is not only responsible for domestic violence against women but also
crimes committed against women outside the houses. Alcohol stimulates the offender’s or
victims cognitive skills, fuelling the violence.
Peer Jealousy
Jealousy is another pivotal factor that has resulted in such awful incidents. In this competitive
world, everyone wants to excel in another person and be ahead. It could be in the business,
service sector, or education sector. A person cannot see another person moving and going
ahead at a very rapid pace. It is a matter of shame and ignominy that there are such incidents
that have occurred on account of sheer jealousy, and just to bring a jolt and halt to the bright
and prosperous career of another person, these means have been employed.

Consequences Of Acid Attacks:

1. Physical consequences:
Acid burns through skin and flesh, layer by layer, causing great pain and injury. It eats through the
two layers of the skin, into the fat and muscle underneath, and sometimes down to the bone, it
may dissolve the bone. The profoundness of injury depends on the brawn of the acid and the
duration of the contact with the skin - the burning goes on until the acid is scrupulously washed off
with water. Further, if thrown on a person's face, acid speedily eats into eyes, ears, nose, and
mouth. The pain is agonizing, as a strong burning heat cuts through the victim's flesh like a hot
 knife. Eyelids and lips may burn off completely. The nose may melt, closing the nostrils, and ears
shrivel up. Acid can rapidly destroy the eye, causing the victim to be blind. Skin and bone of the
skull, forehead, cheeks, and chin may melt. The acid usually splashes or drips over the neck, chest,
back, arms, or legs, burning anywhere it touches. One study found that on average, the patient
suffered by acid attack burns to 14% of their body surface area, with areas most commonly affected
including the face (87% of the victims), head and neck (67%), upper limbs (60%) and chest (54%).
Around a third of victims (31%) suffered complete or partial blindness.

2. Psychological Consequences:
A psychological trauma is suffered by the victim when she perceives that her skin is burnt off and
after the attack the defacement and the disabilities with which they have to bear for the rest of
their lives. Some of the psychological problems which the victims suffer are insomnia, nightmares,
depression, fear of facing the world, headache, tiredness, fear of other acid attacks. They also feel
despondent and worried as they think they turned an outcast from society. The victim's life gets
derailed as every time she looks in the mirror she is reminded of her present insecurity as well as
the despondency of the future.

3. Social and Economic consequences:

The victims who are not married are likely not to get married as they suffer from many disabilities
like blindness, deafness, and many others difficulties and our society's mindset is not that wide
enough to accept a disabled person as their wife. They even do not get a job notwithstanding being
qualified as they cannot meet up to the expectation of their employers as not having the
'personality. Instead of helping them, we make their life more annoying, as we commiserate them
as we do not like to look at their faces for long. However, this approach needs to be changed as
they are suffering not for their wrong, but due to the fault of some savage animals roaming around
the society freely.

Solutions and Preventive Measures

Some of the major solutions to curb violence against women are listed below-
1) Increased Police Vigil
Police vigil must be increased in all the areas, especially in the secluded areas during night.
Police presence significantly reduces the chance of a woman getting assaulted or harassed
by others on the road. Police officers must be deployed at crowded places like markets, as
the women at these places are more susceptible to crimes like eve teasing or groping.
2) Community Initiative
Initiatives taken by the community itself towards curbing violence against women, is the
best way to counter domestic violence and as well as other crimes against women. The Nari
Adalat program introduced in Uttar Pradesh by Department of Education has proved
instrumental in reducing domestic violence against women.
3) Safe Transport
Many acts of sexual violence against women are committed in trains or buses mainly during
late hours. Offenders take advantage of the secluded vehicle and absence of police
personnel. There is a need to deploy at least one woman police constable in buses or rail
coaches during late night hours.
Conclusion
Violence against Indian women is a blot on the nation and the society as well. As long as the
Indian women are subjected to violence, the international image of India is also going to
suffer. Also, incidents of domestic violence, sexual assaults and other similar crimes on
women will continuously damage Indian society and obstructs national progress. Therefore,
it is imperative to take stringent counter measures to diminish any kind of violence against
Indian women.
How dangerous can acid attacks be?

The intensity of burning depends upon what type of acid was used in the crime. Generally
the criminal uses Hydrochloric acid, Nitric acid and Sulphuric acid to attack women. These
acids cause severe burning of the face and even the bones get melted. If the acid enters the
eyes of the victim, she loses her eyesight. In some cases the women lost their ability to hear
due to the attack. When the acid enters the wind pipe or the food pipe, it leads to fatal
diseases like Ulcer. Many deaths have been reported after acid attacks. If the burn is very
deep the face becomes ugly and the skin becomes sagging. Permanent marks are left on the
face and body of the victim wherever the acid is thrown. After the burn is treated, the
victim needs sessions of plastic surgery to look a little normal. These sessions call for a huge
amount of money that can be up to 10-15 lakhs and even more. It is not possible for every
victim to afford such costly treatment. The compensation that is promised to her remains
only on paper. Those who survive the acid attack face severe social, physical and emotional
torture. The woman loses her self- confidence. It is difficult for the family members to
behave with her normally though they try their best to do so. A single woman has no
chances of getting married and those who are already married are hated or left alone by
their spouse. Even the children of the woman fear the ugly face of her and keep a distance.
The pain she goes through, is impossible to imagine. The victim can't socialize with people.
In short the victim of acid attack loses her right to live. In addition to all these the expenses
of her treatment shatters her economically. On the other hand the criminal enjoys free life
on bail or is relieved after a small imprisonment.

What does the Law say

Generally, the punishment for such crime is based on the intensity of burn on the body of
the victim. If the burn is small, the culprit can be sent to jail for three years under the
section 324 of Indian Penal Court (IPC). If the burn is severe, according to the section 326 of
IPC, the criminal can get imprisonment of 10 years extendable to lifetime imprisonment
along with fine. The fine is used for the treatment of the victim. Under the section 307, a
case can be filed charging the victim of Attempt to murder but this is very rare. In April
2013, Supreme Court of India rebuked the Centre on the easy availability of acid in markets.
The Supreme Court also blamed the Centre of being insensitive towards the victims of acid
attacks and of not taking necessary steps to stop the crime. As a result of this wig from the
Supreme court of India, the Centre has said on 16th July 2013, Tuesday, that acid will be
treated as poison. The buyers of acid will now have to produce identity proof, residential
proof along with contact number and the purpose of purchase. The Centre also said that
acid sold through retailers will be not strong enough to corrode human body. The
government will make a new law based on the Poison Act 1919 to curb acid attacks by
putting restriction on its easy availability in market.

Steps needed to stop the crime?

The first and foremost thing is that the Indian society needs to change its mentality towards
judging women. For years, our society has been habituated of cutting wings of woman.
Today, the woman is being progressive and she is strong enough to deny a proposal which
she thinks is not good for her. This denial or rejection is taken as aggression of modern
women by some men and they develop a maniac attitude to take revenge just to satisfy
their ego. Though the number of acid attacks have risen in recent times, the women can't
sit at home due to fear of such attacks. She needs to be cautious and aware. She should
report any suspicious activity such as being followed by a male to her family and police. She
should avoid meeting with any such person alone who she thinks can harm her. Basically
she should be her own helper and follow the safety rules for independent women.

Role of media in stopping acid attacks

Media can play a very vital role in curbing acid attacks. They show every bit of the story
where a woman has been a victim of an acid attack. Similarly, the media should cover
exclusively and highlight the punishment given to the criminals that fear is created in the
minds of those who are planning to execute any such plan.

NGO's stand united against these attacks

The NGO's can also play a great role in becoming the voices of the victims of these attacks.
A successful example of this is the Campaign and Struggle Against Acid Attacks on
Women(CSAAAW) which was formed in the year 2003 in Bangalore. The aim of this
campaign is to force government to ensure rehabilitation of the acid attack victims and stop
such attack on women. This campaign has seen great success and has helped many victims.
We need more such NGO's in every city.

Reform in law and its proper implementation

There are many strict laws against acid attacks in India but the misfortune of our country is
that most of them remain only in paper. The already existing law against these attacks need
to be implemented properly. In addition to this we need some changes in the law that can
prove effective in curbing acid attacks and help the victim lead her life with dignity. Some
such changes and initiatives that are the need of the time are as below-

 The police should properly investigate the acid attacks without being gender bias.
Our police should be trained to handle such cases with sensitivity.
 The victim should be provided immediate and accurate medical help from
government.
 Compensation should be given to the victim as soon as possible so that she could
proceed with her treatment properly.
 The Production, transportation, storage, distribution and sale of acid should be
controlled effectively.
 The hearing should be made in fast track courts for speedy justice to the victim.
 Acid attack should fall into the category of a non-bailable crime.
 The criminal should not be charged according to the severity of the injury.
 The criminal should get a minimum imprisonment of ten years with appropriate
compensation to the victim.
 Provisions should be made for employment and rehabilitation of the victims